The Official "Unofficial" Euro 2012 Thread

[Raven]

Can't say I give a shit really, half of me wants to support my country of birth (Germany) and the other half still has a hold on the country of my parents birth and the country I was brought up in (England) The way the FA operate and the seemingly lazy attitude to internationals shown by the players makes it very hard to have any sort of belief that they will accomplish anything or give a shit if they do.

It certainly won't be passion that wins us anything. At least Germany show a hunger for it. All England seem to do is stumble round the pitch as if they had other things on their mind.

Lazy players
Useless FA
Shitty gutter press desperate to undermine any good things going for the team with non football related rubbish.
Over expectant fans
Commentators that just wont stfu about "66"

 

[Yaka]

prolly germany or spain

as for england we didnt have much of a chance to begin with and while capello shoulda be sacked after the wc. getting him to walk away over the JT issue was daft.

as far as the squad goes. aside from the young winger ox and gerrad its a very very average and un spectacular set of midfield players. and in attack rooney is banned for 2 games, carrol is vastly overated and will keep on giving away free kicks theres the promising welbeck but he cant create some thing out of nothing and needs good service.


also wonder if the rival fans will chuck playstation joy pads at red nev when ever england get a bad result. that would be ace

 

[Keitanz]

I can't wait for Carroll to prove himself this Summer and watch people eat their words

I'm thinking of putting a bet on him to be top goalscorer 33/1

 

[Scouse]

I can't wait for Carroll to prove himself this Summer and watch people eat their words

I'm thinking of putting a bet on him to be top goalscorer 33/1

May I be the first LFC supporter on these forums to officially distance myself from Keitanz and his growing madness.


To be fair, I voted "England win" so I can't be far behind

 

[Scouse]

Shitty gutter press desperate to undermine any good things going for the team with non football related rubbish.

Agree with all your points. In addition I'd add shitty fans - the gutter press is a reflection of the buying public (and vice versa).

 

[DaGaffer]

I don't think you'll find many over-expectant England fans these days. I think South Africa was the final nail in the coffin of English footballing expectations. I haven't spoken to many people who even expect England to get out the group, whereas Irish fans, despite a much trickier prospect, are in the main pretty positive about their chances.

Personally I never expect England to improve whilst the core anti-intellectualism of English football culture continues to exist. The FA is run by dummies because most English players and former players are badly educated in the first place. Its why you get very few good English managers* and very, very few good English officials. (*I can't explain why there are so many more good Scottish managers than English ones as the playing culture is pretty similar; maybe its some kind of Presbyterian work ethic thing. On the other hand the SFA is just as badly run as its English counterpart.).

 

[Cerb]

I think that may be a somewhat unfair summary of Irish fans Gaff. We may be hopeful but it's not like we really even expect to get out of group!

 

[rynnor]

Will there be any England players left at the rate they are injuring themselves? Is it a desperate tactic to avoid being tarred with the epic failure that the Euro's will present?

 

[Yaka]

they all know the gold lies with pyscho and and his GB team.

 

[Punishment]

I think that may be a somewhat unfair summary of Irish fans Gaff. We may be hopeful but it's not like we really even expect to get out of group!

I couldn't give a crap about getting out of the group it will be great craic though and we get APRES MATCH <3

I PLAYED IN ITALLY BILL !

 

[Cerb]

Disgusted I won't be able to watch RTE to see the Apres Match

 

[DaGaffer]

Disgusted I won't be able to watch RTE to see the Apres Match

In HD now...

 

[megadave]

Lampard replaced by Henderson. Oh dear!

 

[Vasconcelos]

What you think Tenta? I'm quite happy with all areas except for our strikers. Dunno if we'll cope without maravilla's solo efforts . Then again I'm hoping we can do what France did in 98 and have the midfield carry the team

I WANT Spain to win with all my heart (well.. duh!), however, I dont have the least bit of faith in DelBosque. I never liked him as manager. Always thought his trophies are the result of being in the right place at the right moment. Comes a bad game or a low peak of form, we will see the true magnitude of his skill as manager = 0.

So we are basically in the hands of the players, and to be honest, if Llorente isnt up to the challenge (i dont even count Torres), we will suffer from the Barca synptome: 70% of ball posesion w/o scoring enough goals to win matches.

PD: marqués del nabo, yatusabes

 

[CorNokZ]

I WANT Spain to win with all my heart (well.. duh!), however, I dont have the least bit of faith in DelBosque. I never liked him as manager. Always thought his trophies are the result of being in the right place at the right moment. Comes a bad game or a low peak of form, we will see the true magnitude of his skill as manager = 0.

So we are basically in the hands of the players, and to be honest, if Llorente isnt up to the challenge (i dont even count Torres), we will suffer from the Barca synptome: 70% of ball posesion w/o scoring enough goals to win matches.

PD: marqués del nabo, yatusabes

Why not use Soldado? He scored just as many goals as Llorente this season and is in better shape than Torres. He has a nose for goal, which Torres seems to lack a bit at the moment.. I'm not even sure he is in your troop atm?

 

[Vasconcelos]

Why not use Soldado? He scored just as many goals as Llorente this season and is in better shape than Torres. He has a nose for goal, which Torres seems to lack a bit at the moment.. I'm not even sure he is in your troop atm?

Soldado was discarded from the pre-selection in favour of Negredo and Torres (Torres ffs!!)

The only explanation i can give is that its a personal decision of Del Bosque, hence my hard criticism on his skills as a manager.

Spain lacks in the 9s department. Besides Llorente, the others arent up to the task from my pov. Dont discard watching Spain playing w/o pure strikers and just with a line of wingers and second strikers.

 

[Everz]

Lampard replaced by Henderson. Oh dear!

Think Woy is trying to get as many 'Pool players in there as possible.

The defeat to Ukraine will be droolworthy.

 

[Ormorof]

I couldn't give a crap about getting out of the group it will be great craic though and we get APRES MATCH <3

I PLAYED IN ITALLY BILL !

ah i love those guys "weeellll Bill..."

 

[CorNokZ]

Soldado was discarded from the pre-selection in favour of Negredo and Torres (Torres ffs!!)

The only explanation i can give is that its a personal decision of Del Bosque, hence my hard criticism on his skills as a manager.

Spain lacks in the 9s department. Besides Llorente, the others arent up to the task from my pov. Dont discard watching Spain playing w/o pure strikers and just with a line of wingers and second strikers.

What a luxury problem.. We have Nicklas Bendtner and that is about it

 

[gunner440]

Why not use Soldado? He scored just as many goals as Llorente this season and is in better shape than Torres. He has a nose for goal, which Torres seems to lack a bit at the moment.. I'm not even sure he is in your troop atm?

He was in the initial cut but didn't make our final squad. Del Bosque's reasoning was that Negredo suited the current team better in terms of what they needed tactically and it's true to an extent. Personally, I think the real choice wasn't between Negredo and Soldado but more between Soldado and Torres. Both of them are similar(ish) in terms of liking to play off the last defender.

Perhaps del Bosque was thinking that we would come across several teams who may try and block us as the defending champions / to stop our style of play and he's going for strength in terms of a variety of options. Against teams dropping very deep, I think Llorente would be handy as a battering ram option (who said we can't play long ball?!) and Torres good for the sides more likely to push up. Considering this, I'd put Negredo as somewhere in the middle of the other 2 in terms of style of play. Don't forget we also have Mata who can and has played in a striker / 2nd striker position as well as Fabregas who has played as a 2nd striker for our national team at times (as well as Barcelona this season)

In the Torres v Soldado argument, I think del Bosque is opting for the tried and tested. Regardless of Torres' form this year, he has proven he is able to deliver at international level which is something Soldado has yet to do (he's been in and out of the Spanish team since... 2007-8ish?). I'd say the mental part is almost bigger than the technical side of the game in a quickfire tournament and this could be a factor in the mister's decision making.

 

[gunner440]

I WANT Spain to win with all my heart (well.. duh!), however, I dont have the least bit of faith in DelBosque. I never liked him as manager. Always thought his trophies are the result of being in the right place at the right moment. Comes a bad game or a low peak of form, we will see the true magnitude of his skill as manager = 0.

So we are basically in the hands of the players, and to be honest, if Llorente isnt up to the challenge (i dont even count Torres), we will suffer from the Barca synptome: 70% of ball posesion w/o scoring enough goals to win matches.

PD: marqués del nabo, yatusabes

I agree we're in the hands of the players but to be honest I'm comfortable with that. We have a lot of sensible senior heads (Xabi/Xavi/Iker) in the team and I think the core that won in 2008 and 2010 will have the level-headedness to guide the newer guys. I hope Puyol is there as well in some capacity cos regardless of what he does as a player I think he's another jefe-type character.

Got places at my friend's restaurant to watch the Spanish games The irony is it's an Italian restaurant (but he's Spanish). Me and the guys going (banderitas, bufandas y camisetas a tope) are hoping there will be some Italians there on that Sunday...!

I CAN'T WAIT. GOD DAMN.

 

[Cerb]

Sorry guys but your going to be dissapointed when THE MIGHTY IRISH ravage you 5-0.

Just let it happen.

 

[Vasconcelos]

Well, if anyone, I would like the irish to do that. We always got along very well

 

[Cerb]

Sure as long as we can share a cervesa (sp?) the score doesn't matter!

 

[Vasconcelos]

Sure as long as we can share a cerveZa the score doesn't matter!

Just one?

 

[rynnor]

Is this the weakest england team (with the injuries) for a major tournament in living history?

 

[CorNokZ]

This is what we are sending to Poland and Ukraine..

http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/fodbold/landsholdsfodbold/em2012/article1768698.ece

 

[Everz]

Can only hope a group stage exit so the rest of tournament can enjoyable without the 'England!!!!' hype.

 

[megadave]

Is this the weakest england team (with the injuries) for a major tournament in living history?

yes

 

[Everz]

Filled with Liverpool on the back of a cup-winning season! How can it be weak!